Grand Caravan Lives Again Under Chrysler Brand, Only in Canada
The Dodge Grand Caravan is dead, with production ending in August, but the name will live on. Exclusively for Canada, FCA is introducing the brand new 2021 Chrysler Grand Caravan.
It’s essentially the same minivan that’s sold as the Voyager in the U.S. since the 2020 model year.
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“Minivans are still a big deal for Chrysler and it would have been a huge mistake to walk away from the Grand Caravan name and heritage,” admitted Mike Szymkiewicz, product planning manager at FCA Canada, who pointed to the fact that nine out of 10 minivans sold by FCA in the country are Grand Caravans.
But why not continue with Dodge? Szymkiewicz remarked that the brand is now focusing on power and muscle cars (the Journey crossover also won’t return for 2021, remember), while Chrysler is more about comfort and convenience for families.
What to Expect
Basically, the new 2021 Chrysler Grand Caravan is a cheaper, more basic version of the outgoing 2020 Pacifica. The latter has been significantly upgraded for 2021 with more luxury and technology than ever.
The base 2021 Grand Caravan, which is roughly similar to the SXT trim at Dodge, carries a price of $37,995 (plus freight and delivery). It might sound a bit expensive, but don’t forget that big manufacturer rebates will inevitably follow.
Standard features include seven-passenger seating with a second-row bench seat and third-row Stow ‘n Go 60/40 bench seat, Uconnect 4 with a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry with push-button start and 17-inch steel wheels. Eight-passenger seating and second-row Stow ‘n Go fold-in-floor seats with in-floor storage are available.
For those who want more content, there’s the Chrysler Grand Caravan SXT at $39,995, which can be compared to the Premium Plus trim at Dodge. This one adds 17-inch alloy wheels, second-row removable bucket seats with in-floor storage bins, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat and tri-zone climate control.
All Chrysler Grand Caravan models can be had with the Stow ’n Place roof rack and the SafetyTec Group, which includes ParkSense Rear Park Assist with Stop, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path Detection, Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking and Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Detection. The SXT also has optional Cold Weather Group, Power Group, Trailer-Tow Group and single overhead DVD.
More Savings… At the Pump
There’s no surprise as far as the engine is concerned. The new Grand Caravan boasts a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 that generates 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. However, it’s now mated to a nine-speed transmission (previously six), reducing average fuel consumption to 8.4 L/100 km according to FCA’s numbers.
The 2021 Chrysler Grand Caravan will be built at the same Windsor, Ontario assembly plant as the other minivans. It goes on sale later this summer.
